Wednesday, board member Jim Wiltrout changed his vote, making a 5-4 decision in favor of raising the millage to support the $11.6 million budget for the 2003-04 school year.

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"I lost a lot of sleep over it" Wiltrout said of his first vote in May. "They wanted to reduce the cash reserves to cover the costs and we have no idea what we are going to get from Gov. Rendell."

Wiltrout said during the two weeks between the meetings, he spoke with residents in his region.

"In all of the people I talked to, only one said that (he or she) would rather cut programs than have a tax increase," he said. "I just couldn't do it (vote in opposition)"

Last year, the board approved a 2.3 mill increase, only to reopen the budget and annul the change for the year.

The 2002-03 budget was $10.95 million.

The proposed 2003-04 budget was up $671,291 from the previous year.

Wiltrout said Troutman favored cutting programs that he thinks are vital to the curriculum of the school district.

"Brad wants to cut sports, alternative schooling and vocational-aggriculture," he said. "If we cut all of that, all we would have left is just the kids. We have to think about the opportunities for the kids."

Wiltrout said he would rather have a smaller increase now than facing a larger one down the road.

"It is more of biting the bullet a little bit now," he said. "We can't keep increasing taxes, without watching our spending. They really go hand-in-hand."

Wiltrout said saving is also the key in preparing for future costs.

"We need to see where and how we can save," he said. "I had my mind made up when I went in there Wednesday and my opinion came from talking to people."

Following the May 7 meeting, the district was faced with looking to cut programs to make-up for the increased costs in other areas.

According to Troutman, previous figures reported to the Daily American were for a 1 mill increase, not 3.3 mills.

For a 3.3 mill increase a person with a property assessed value of $20,470 would have see roughly a $67.55 increase in taxes for the year, not $20.47.

So, a person with property assessed at $50,000, would see roughly a $165 increase for the year, instead of $50 as reported earlier this month.

Wiltrout confirmed these updated figures.

"I think that if people would see the real increase, they would have a problem with it," Troutman said. "There was hardly anyone at the meeting this week. But, if they knew what the increase would be, more would have been there."

Troutman said the budget is open for public view until June 25 when the budget's final draft will be voted on.

"People need to know what this past meeting was all about," he said. "People just can't afford the increase."

The board members will vote to ratify their 2003-04 budget at 7 p.m. June 25. The meeting is open to the public and Troutman is encouraging residents of the district to attend.